A federal jury has found Sedgwick County commissioner Michael O’Donnell not guilty on 21 wire fraud charges, but the jury was deadlocked on two wire fraud counts and all three charges of money laundering.

The jury returned to the courtroom shortly after 2 Monday afternoon to report to the judge.   Defense attorneys asked to have the remaining charges against O’Donnell dismissed.

O’Donnell was accused of taking money from his campaign funds for personal use.   Defense attorneys argued that O’Donnell did not intend to commit fraud and he had hired friends and family members to work on his campaigns for a state senate office and for the county commission seat he now holds.

The U.S. Attorney for Kansas, Stephen McAllister, issued a statement later saying that his office will evaluate the jury verdicts to determine whether to take the case to trial again on the five counts where the jury was deadlocked.     He said, “As always, our office takes very seriously the determinations made by a jury of our citizens, and we will consider the jury’s decision here carefully in deciding next steps for our office.”